About Us
AQUAMANIA SWIMMING LIMITED is a great programme to prepare youngsters for the water. Initially children learn for safety skills in and around water, and later provide the swimming skills training at a competitive level. It also provides a fun, but busy seasonal job for teenagers and young adults.
Our teaching techniques are unique to Aquamania but our certificate and awards schemes follow that of the Swimming Teachers Association (STA) in the UK, which is a charity founded in 1932 with its primary objective of “preserving lives by teaching swimming, lifesaving and survival techniques.”
Company Background
Aquamania Swimming began in MAY 1986 and was started by Lesley Cherry White, as a very small programme for ONE month only.
Lesley was a founding member and competitive swimmer with the Harbour Swim Club from 1974. She began her “teaching” career with the club in 1979.
Lesley continued to teach in the programme until 1986, at which time she started Aquamania Swimming in MAY alongside teaching Warwick Academy’s JULY Summer Swim programme. From 1987 until 1992, she divided her time between growing Aquamania Swimming Ltd, and organizing and supervising the Harbour Swim Club summer programme.
Aquamania Swimming has grown from ONE pool, ONE teacher, 3 children per class, 3 afternoons a week for ONE month, to 22+ pools, more than 40 staff throughout the season, 8-30 children per class depending on pool size, 1,000+ students, weekday mornings/afternoons and Saturdays. The programme now caters to ages from 12 months to ADULTS; with our most mature to date being 78 years old. This year we will introduce lessons from 6 months of age. Aquamania also offers lessons to more than 12 of the island’s preschools and nurseries.
Lesley has a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education and a Master’s in Education Administration, and more than 30 years’ experience in teaching swimming and water safety. She is also a CPR, AED and FIRST AID Instructor for the Bermuda Red Cross. Lesley was originally certified through the STA in the UK and holds the Basic and Standard Teacher’s Certificate, and an overseas membership.
Important Programme Note
Whilst we encourage improved confidence in the water there is a chance that some children may become over confident in and around water. Therefore it is imperative that whenever a child has access to ANY aquatic environment (ocean, pool, pond, lake, river, bucket of water, bath tub and toilet, just to name a few) they are supervised by an adult. No method of baby / toddler swimming can prevent drowning, but with exposure to baby / toddler swimming lessons, children have a better chance of survival by being familiar with water – they will be more relaxed if they fall in accidently.
